Bishop Carter Turns Jamaica Annual Conference into Mission Trip
Bishop Kenneth Wayne Carter, prelate of the 10th Episcopal District, led a large delegation of CMEs from the United States to Montego Bay, Jamaica, April 10-14, 2007, for the Jamaica Region Annual Conference. But it wasn't your typical CME meeting. The newly elected bishop, assigned to the Episcopal District encompassing African nations, Jamaica and Haiti, has determined that each annual conference will devote a significant amount of time to engaging in real mission work. During this year's visit to Jamaica, the bishop, members of the Jamaican Region and guests from the States helped to reinvigorate and restore three CME schools, including the Mae Linsey School, the Joseph Coles School, and the Christian Methodist Basic School. Each school was in dire need of some good ol' elbow grease. Joining the bishop on the trip and engaging in much of the hard work in the sweltering Jamaican sun were 21 members from the Phillips Metropolitan CME Church in Hartford, CT, along with their pastor, Rev. James Walker. Also on the trip were General Secretary of Evangelism and Missions Dr. W.C. Champion, Florida Region Missionary Society President Mrs. Mary Stallings, Central CME President Mrs. Gladys Brown, Rev. Manuel Henderson of Ft. Worth, TX, Dr. and Mrs. Author Green of Akron, OH, and Dr. Kenneth E. Jones, Editor of The Christian Index. Working closely with Bishop Carter on all of his mission efforts is Rev. Mrs. Mary McKinney of Florida. Look for more expanded coverage of the Jamaican mission effort in an upcoming issue of The Christian Index.

Bishop Dotcy Isom Returns to Hudsonville CME as Homecoming Speaker
Holly Springs, MS--On March 11, 2007, the Hudsonville CME Church family celebrated “Annual Homecoming.” To make sure that all of the affiliates were united in the celebration, correspondence was sent nation wide informing family members of the great day coming and our expectations.
This celebration was praised to the highest with approximately 350 members, relatives and friends present. Happily, not only was the program blessed in attendance but also spiritually and financially.
The highest peak of the program was the presence of Bishop Dotcy I. Isom, Jr. (retired), who was the dynamic speaker for the Homecoming Celebration. Bishop Isom, the 43rd Bishop of the CME Church, greeted his church family with zeal, joviality and godly love as an anointed one.
Using as a ttitle, “A Second Touch,” Bishop Isom enlightened the congregation that all saints need a "second touch" from God Almighty in order to remain on the straight and narrow path that makes us the church that God wants us to be and leads us to our final destination, our heavenly home with Jesus.
Rev. and Mrs. Bobby G. Wilson, pastor of the Hudsonville CME Church and wife, extended their appreciation by closing the day with a “down home, soul food” repast for the entire church family and Bishop and Mrs. Dotcy I. Isom, Jr. Thank You Bishop Isom for coming home!
Submitted by Mrs. Ardelia I. Briggs.

He Lives!

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! (Romans 5:9-10)

When we were children, my sister closest to me and I would get up very early on Easter morning, go outside and find the perfect spot to watch the sun come up. We were told that if you pay close attention on Easter morning, you can actually see the sun shout, celebrating the risen savior! Of course as we took in this miraculous occurrence, we didn't realize that the very act of training our eyes so closely to the rising sun produces a natural optical effect that makes it appear as if the sun were slightly moving up and down. Moreover, thank goodness our naivete didn't render us blind! Nevertheless, the idea of shouting on Easter Sunday morning is not something too unfamiliar to those of us as CMEs growing up in the south. They used to do a lot of shouting back then. But why? If Jesus had not risen from the grave, what hope would men and women have? Death would be an empty void, a terrifying prospect. Life would be without meaning. Paul reminds us in the fifth chapter of Romans that Christ, through his dying, has brought us back into reconciliation with God. Thus it seems Paul is saying that indeed while there might be sufficient value for our salvation in his dying alone, how much greater off are we through the fact that he lives! That is something to shout about on this Easter Day. May the blessings of Easter be with you today and always, and may we always remember there is much to shout about.

Updated location for Victor Brown funeral in Jackson, TN.
The funeral service and burial for Rev. A. Victor Brown to be held in Jackson, TN, has been changed to a new location. It will be held on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at Noon at the St. Paul CME Church 571 Lane Avenue, Jackson, TN 38301. Telephone: 731-427-1627. All arrangements for the funeral in Cincinnati, OH, remain unchanged.

Revised Announcement for Rev. Victor Brown Funeral. The following is a revised announcement concerning the funeral arrangements for the Rev. A. Victor Brown, the son of Bishop Edward Lynn Brown, Presiding Prelate of the Second Episcopal District, who passed away on April 2, 2007. Rev. A. Victor Brown will lie in state at the St. Phillips CME Church, 1205 Lane Street, Hamilton, OH 45805 on Friday, April 6, 2007, from noon until 5 PM. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2007 at noon, (Wake and Visitation from 9:30 AM - 11:45 AM), Metropolitan CME Church 2815 Melrose Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45206. A funeral service and burial will be held on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at noon in Salem CME Church, 2607 Ashport Road, Jackson, TN 38301. In lieu of flowers, the family of Rev. Brown is respectfully requesting that donations be made to a scholarship fund for K.J. and A.J. Brown. Any donations to the scholarship fund can be directed as follows:


"The Custodian Scholarship Trust Account for K.J. and A.J. Brown"
National City Bank
Attention: Pamela Thompson or Rich King
Carousel Branch
8054 Reading Road
Cincinnati, OH 45237
Telephone: (513) 821-2094

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Thompson, Hall & Jordan (Cincinnati), Telephone: 513-742-3600. In Jackson, Tennessee: Bledsoe Funeral Home, 256 Middleton Avenue, Jackson, TN 38301. Telephone: 731-4 27-1521. Please keep in prayer Bishop Edward Lynn Brown and Mrs. Gladys Brown, Victor's wife, Churee Lee Brown; his sons, Kyrhee Sjamont (K.J.) and Alonzo Edward (A.J. ), and his sister, Cheronda Brown Guyton (Andrew) and nephews, Stephen Andrew and Sean Matthew.

Peace and Blessings during this Holy Week. Humbly submitted by Theresa Duhart

Remaining Focused (a meditation).
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”- Hebrews 12:2.

Over the past several days, four of our most visible, widely recognized CMEs have been unexpectedly called home. Indeed, there have been others whom we may not know, but who also were strong, committed, loyal CMEs. These losses give us reason to pause as, otherwise, our hearts and spirits are drawn toward the observance of Holy Week. Let us not lose heart. God remains in control. We will keep our eyes ever fixed on the hope and victory of Jesus. --Kenneth E. Jones, Editor

Funeral Services Scheduled for Rev. A. Victor Brown. The following is information on the funeral arrangements for Rev. A. Victor Brown, the son of Bishop Edward Lynn Brown. Rev. A. Victor Brown will lie in state at the St. Phillips CME Church, 1205 Lane Street, Hamilton, OH 45805 on Friday, April 6, 2007, from noon until 5 PM. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2007 at noon, (Wake and Visitation 9:30 AM - 11:45 AM) at the Metropolitan CME Church, 2815 Melrose Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45206. A funeral service and burial will be held on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 12 noon at the Salem CME Church, 2607 Ashport Road in Jackson, TN 38301. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the AJ Brown and KJ Brown Scholarship Fund, c/o 2nd Episcopal District, 7030 Reading Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45237. Funeral arrangements are entrustred to Thompson, Hall & Jordan (Cincinnati, OH) Ph. 513-742-3600. In Jackson, Tennessee, arrangements are with the Bledsoe Funeral Home, 256 Middleton Avenue, Jackson, TN 38301; (731)-427-1521. Bishop Edward Lynn Brown and Mrs. Gladys Brown, as well as Rev. A. Victor Brown's sons, A.J. and K.J., need your prayers. Peace and Blessings during this Holy week. Submitted by Atty. Juanita Bryant, Executive Secretary of the CME Church.

Loss of Rev. Victor Brown. We regret to inform you of the sudden loss Monday morning, April 2, 2007, of Rev. Victor Brown, son of Bishop Edward Lynn Brown, presiding prelate of the 2nd Episcopal District, and Mrs. Gladys Stevens Brown. No additional information concerning Rev. Brown's passing is known at this time. Rev. Brown leaves a wife and two young sons. Let us be in prayer for the Brown family.